American rap artist Azealia Banks, now a resident in Sweden, has slammed the country, taking aim at Stockholm's nightlife, calling it “ridiculous”.
She also had a lot to say about Swedish style, shopping and Swedish laundry rooms.
“This is no place for me,” Banks wrote on X.
Our own American readers have had more constructive things to say about Sweden however. In a recent survey we asked them to share tips about Sweden for their compatriots who might want to move to the country.
Almost three quarters (74 percent) of the 34 Americans who answered our survey on moving to Sweden said that they would recommend the Nordic country to their fellow countrymen, with the rest of the respondents more or less evenly split between "no" and "don't know".
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Moving to a new country is, of course, always an individual choice, so readers also shared some factors that may help you decide whether Sweden is the place for you.
Work-life balance
A number of respondents highlighted Sweden's work-life balance as a major draw, including 38-year-old researcher Katie, originally from North Carolina.
She listed some of the positives of living in Sweden as "work-life balance and job security, low childcare costs and safety in schools", adding that she would recommend Sweden to some Americans.
"Those who are willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for work-life balance, and those that have the patience to slowly (and sometimes painfully) learn a new culture."
Another respondent, an IT professional in the Gothenburg region, said specifically that he moved to Sweden "for a better work-life balance" in 2022.
His family "loves being here", he said, although he's not sure he would recommend the country to others.
"The issues that we have had with the migration laws would give me pause now. Also, with the current atmosphere, having your residency dependent on a work permit can be quite stressful," he wrote.
Work culture and issues finding work
Elizabeth, a half-Swedish half-American technical writer based in Norrköping, said that the culture in Swedish workplaces is different to what Americans may be used to from back home, both when it comes to finding work and once you've got a job.
"Connections are important regardless of which country you work in, but my observation is that it is of magnified importance here," she said.
Despite the importance of networking, she warns that it's not as easy to do so in Sweden as it can be in the US.
"First, if you aren't already strongly connected to others working in your sector in Sweden, be aware that, culturally, networking in Sweden is very different from in the US. Having spent most of my professional life in the US and other countries, I'm used to a certain openness, mutual curiosity and informality when networking. In contrast, from a networking perspective, many Swedes can appear wary, stand-offish and disinterested."
Elizabeth believes this could be linked to the fact that Swedes don't move around as much as Americans do.
"This could vary according to sector, but be aware that Sweden is a small country and people don't move as much geographically as in the US. When you're deeply rooted in one place, and often staying with one employer for a relatively long time, the imperative to network is perhaps not as strong as in the US."
Chris Fry, a product manager in Stockholm, likened moving to Sweden to "trading the entire US job market for that of the state of Georgia".
"Sweden does have a vibrant and diverse economy with job opportunities in many careers. However, it's important to keep in mind that large sectors of the economy are inaccessible if you don't speak Swedish, making it an even smaller job market."
Once you have Swedish citizenship the job market expands to the rest of the EU, he said, but until then your work visa will "keep you tied to the Swedish job market".
Recent layoffs and bankruptcies mean Americans may find themselves more worried about job security in Sweden than back home in the US, he added.
"Sweden has also experienced a lot of volatility at the major employers most likely to employ foreigners with major layoffs and even bankruptcies. All of which is to say I experience a great deal more stress over job stability living here than I did in the US due to the above as well as many of the other things you'd typically think about before such a move."
Visa requirements
Many of the Americans answering our survey highlighted the fact that it's not always as easy to move to Sweden as people might think it is.
"As an American I find it really frustrating that Americans think they can move anywhere at any time, and it's just up to them to weigh the pros and cons and select the place they prefer," wrote Baillie Hamilton, an operations consultant from Arkansas now based in Trosa.
"The biggest consideration is whether they can even get a visa to come here, or afford the process."
- Checklist: How to move to Sweden as an American
Hamilton moved to Sweden not from the US, but from the Netherlands.
"We weren't totally happy with real estate options [in the Netherlands] and were looking to start a family. We wanted more space and nature, and fell in love with Sweden on a holiday here," she said.
She also cautioned against moving to Sweden just to get away from something back home.
"Most of all, I think it's important to move TOWARD something you like and want, rather than moving away from something else. Mentally, I mean. It's not enough to want to leave the US and find a place the internet has romanticised and flee your problems, you need to understand your life changes and you need to be really flexible and interested in adapting to the new place."
Cultural differences
The US and Sweden also have cultural differences, respondents said, despite the fact that Swedes are in general very good at English.
"Sweden is proud to be a 'we' society and most things are weighed in those terms here, as in what is good for the collective, even if it's not favourable to me. That is quite different from the much loved and admired individualistic way of life in the States. This 'we' mentality is woven into the fabric of Sweden, and it's hard to understand sometimes," wrote Christina Sporrong, an artist and educator from New Mexico.
"Sweden also has a long tradition of a way of life that includes not sticking out too much, conforming to social norms. They are not as likely to embrace differences and are usually conflict averse in social settings," she wrote.
"There are subtle differences within the country as well, the south (the breadbasket of the country) being a bit more relaxed and multicultural. Stockholm is a fast-paced city, on the other hand, with high prices and flashy people, and arguably more going on. I feel like living here in Sweden (we live in Skåne) is lovely, safe and very sane. It's like hanging out with the grown ups (in comparison to all the drama in the States). It can feel a bit boring even, but who doesn't love that idea coming from the US?"
Despite the cultural differences, Sporrong did say that some aspects of American culture can be helpful when relocating to Sweden.
"I think having an American 'go get 'em' attitude' can be very helpful in a country where they always say no first and then maybe yes," she wrote.
Eric Peterson, a software engineer who moved to Sweden in 2020, described the country as "likely among the least disruptive for Americans" in terms of factors like cultural similarity and the fact that Swedish is relatively close to English, which makes it easier for English-speakers to learn.
"But this doesn't change the fact that everything is a challenge, especially in the beginning," he warns.
"Grocery shopping, getting a bank account or a cellphone plan, finding housing, making friends. Everything that once came naturally is suddenly an uphill climb. It's easy to underestimate."
The language
Peterson recommends that any Americans thinking of relocating to Sweden make an effort to learn the language even before they arrive.
"Learning a language makes for an excellent distraction from the latest political scandal and all that doom scrolling you're trying to escape. And of all the languages you could pick, Swedish is relatively accessible for English speakers. Start now while you're still over there! Every little bit helps."
Ellen from Philadelphia, who moved to Sweden in 2019, echoed Peterson's advice.
"The language and culture, I think, are the biggest factors for Americans to consider. While everyone speaks excellent English, to go from surviving to thriving, you need a more in depth understanding of the language. It can feel isolating without Swedish. In terms of the culture, it is easier to adjust to: a slower pace, less focus on work, and more support from the government, but it can still take time to feel a part of the Swedish culture."
Taxes and finances
Software engineer Eric Peterson warns that there are a number of financial implications a move to Sweden can have for Americans in particular.
"I could write an entire book about financial considerations when moving from the USA to Sweden," he said.
"A few highlights that may catch Americans off-guard: You will have to continue to file your taxes with the IRS forever, even if in practice you likely won't owe anything. Depending on the complexity of your financial situation and level of patience for learning the nuances of the Swedish/USA tax treaty, you may wind up paying hundreds or thousands a year for help filing."
Many Swedish banks are often reluctant to open bank accounts for US citizens due to reporting obligations, which can lead to Americans becoming "financial second-class citizens", Peterson said.
A respondent from Pennsylvania working in Stockholm said that this can get even more complicated if you have assets or income in both Sweden and the US.
"If you have some income streams in dollars and some in Swedish kronor, it's even more of a bureaucratic nightmare (speaking from experience, unfortunately!). Things are also super complicated if you have investments/pensions in both countries," she said.
Mauricio Aristizabal, who relocated from Pittsburgh to Västerås in the summer of 2024, said that "taxation is the main consideration".
"You must understand your responsibility as a taxpayer in both countries and how choosing the right time of the year to relocate can heavily impact the taxes due that year. In short, do not put taxes as second thought before moving."
Cost of living
A reader in western Sweden who wished to remain anonymous advised those considering the move to plan their finances carefully.
"Do a budget and determine if dramatically lower take-home pay will work for you," he said.
"If you're a couple and rely primarily on one person's income, it's very important to understand that is not how Swedish society works. For example, a surviving spouse does not receive their deceased partner's pension after they die."
Product manager Chris Fry warned that "you will be much poorer in Sweden".
"Yes taxes are higher and that's part of it, but you get more for your taxes and won't resent that much."
"I'd estimate that the cost of living is about the same in Sweden but you will make half as much. In trade you do get more in public services. On net, you can absolutely live comfortably in Sweden, indeed very well, but you won't have anything like the same amount of disposable income. The US is a weird consumer's paradise and you don't feel it until you've lived somewhere else. You don't know how rich you are."
Another respondent, a physician and writer from California, living in Stockholm, said that this can particularly affect people with student loans back home.
"The salaries are not built for this type of debt and you will also suffer from the weaker currency conversion," he said.
Changes to migration law in the pipeline
A number of Americans who were glad that they had made the move to Sweden would not recommend it to others because of planned changes to migration laws, including tightening up the rules for citizenship and permanent residency.
"Understand that immigration laws are rapidly tightening and there is a strong anti-immigration sentiment in government and society," the American working in western Sweden wrote.
"There are places in the EU with better climate, economy, government and taxes that are more welcoming to immigration than Sweden," he said.
"There is a very high risk the immigration rules could suddenly change and legal certainty around immigration law has not been important to this or previous governments. Immigrants are not seen as people, much less a resource, they are simply a political football in Sweden."
Family
Many respondents highlighted the fact that Sweden is a great country to move to if you have a family or are thinking of starting one.
"I'd say there's no better place for people with young kids or who want kids," wrote Anna, a researcher in Gothenburg.
"Salaries are low and taxes high, but you get a lot for it (parental leave, preschool, fritids [after school club], free education). But people who don't want kids or whose kids are older might not benefit as much."
Kacy Brown, who has previously lived in Louisiana and Texas but now lives in Skåne, said her children, who were ten and 16 when the family moved over, feel safer in Sweden than they did in the US.
"There isn't the constant school shooting fears, they can get around via reliable public transportation, they feel respected by their peers and teachers," she said.
Nature
Brown also valued the proximity to nature since moving to Sweden.
"Coming from the Dallas area to Skåne, I'm so happy with how much more time I spend in nature here – biking to work, hiking on the weekends, spending time in the park sitting in the sun," she wrote.
Jennifer, a retired physician from Maine, echoed her sentiments.
"Nature abounds, and is the right of those that live here. No 'private property, no trespassing' signs everywhere!"
Thank you to everyone who replied to our survey. We received almost 40 responses so weren't able to include them all, but we tried to pick a representative sample. If you would like to add your own thoughts to the conversation, please feel free to do so in the comments below.
If you have any future ideas, feedback or questions about life in Sweden for The Local's editorial team, you're always welcome to email news@thelocal.se.
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